Method of and means for assembling sifter-top members for cans



G. HOLTHA'US. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING SIFTER TOP MEMBERS FORCANS.

- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, I9I9. 1,394,623.

6 L W 4 1T PM T 5 m N H 2 M E e .n mu. mr 0 w s e w H e t a P AMV/QLATTORNEY 'G. HOLTHAUS.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING SIFTER TOP MEMBERS FOR CANS.

APPHCATION FILED JUNE28| 1919.

Patented Oct. 25

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 620/36 ffa/i/E'aqs ATT'ORN EY G. HOLTHAUS. METHOD OF AND MEANSFOR ASSEMBLING SIFTER TOP MEMBERS FOR CANS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23,1919.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- 3 3 7 V SWOT/mu I STATES GEORGE HOLTHAUS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.ASSIGNOR TO THE TIN DECORATING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, OF BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OI AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING SIFTER-TOP MEMBERS FOR CAN S.

Application filed June 28,

To all tvho'm'z't may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOLTHAUS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Methods of and Means for Assembling Sifter-Top Membersfor Cans, of which the following is a specification. I r

This invention relates generally to a method of and apparatus forassembling can tops and more particularly to a method and apparatus forproperly locating the two relatively movable members of a sifter topconstruction before such members are finally assembled as by crimping.

The object of this invention is to provide a method and automatic meansfor adjusting a cap on the sifter top so as to bring it into properregister with the top before crimping. A further object is to provideconstantly rotating means for adjustingthe cap. I also provide suchmeans operative automatically in conjunction with a crimping machine.- Afurther object is to produce a machine simple in structure, easily andcheaply manufactured and suitable for attachment to standard crimpingpresses.

My machine is intended primarily for use in assembling cans of thesifter top type, in which holes in the can top register with holes in arotatable cap mounted on said top. Such cans ordinarily haveinterengaging elements on the top and cap to stop the rotation of thecap in one direction when the holes arein register, and in the otherdirection when the holes are out of'register and the can is thereforeclosed. It has been the practice in assembling the cap and top to havean operator take from the tray the assembled can breast and top and thecap, place the cap thereon, adjust it so that the stop device is inengagement, and then place top and cap on the platform of a crimpingpress to be crimped together. To have the crimper run at full capacityit is necessary for the operator to assemble the caps and tops veryrapidly; and the object of this machine is to avoid the necessityforregistering the stop device by hand, permitting the operator to placethe cap on the top an both on the machine without any delay foradjustment, thus considerably increasingthe Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921i. 1919. SeriaI No. 307,2431.

regardless of theirrelaplaced on the crimper Fig. 2 is a plan View ofthe press table and feeding means;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the driving connections and bracket;

F 1g. 4 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the deviceshowing a can cap engaged thereby;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a can top with the cap in open position; f

F 1g. 6 is a similar view with the cap'in closed position;

Fig. is a cross sectional view taken cen- .trally of the crimper and oneof the platforms shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed views of the expansion stake shown in Fig.7.

The standard press shown has a drive shaft 10 reciprocating the crimpinghead '11 by means of crank 12, pitman 13 and reclprocatlng carriage 14:carried. in ways in the frame 15. Said frame also carries a retatingtable 16 having a series of platforms 17 upon each of which may belocated a can top 18, each platform also having a stop pin 19 to preventthe rotation of a top thereon. The table is provided at its undersidewith a form of Geneva motion driven by shaft 21 which is driven throughbevel gears 22 from drive shaft 10 and intermittently rotates the table.The operation is so timed that the crimper head 11 descends on a can topcarried by a platform 17 during the pause of the platform under thecrimper head and operates thereon to crimp the cap into position. Thismechanism hereinafter described dependent of a crimping press. My devicecomprises a vertical shaft 22 carried in bearings in bracket 23 mountedon carriage 14. A collar 24 on said shaft limits its downward motion andspring 25 pressing upwardly against the lower arm of bracket 23 anddownwardly against collar 26 on the shaft 22 tends to hold the shaft inits lowernfost position, with collar 24 against the bracket arm. Ascollars 26 and 24 are adjustable on the shaft the lowermost position Iof the shaft and the tension of spring 25 may be varied at will.

Mounted on the lower end of the shaft 22 is the adjusting head 27 havinga cup shaped recess at its lower side carrying a cork-contact pad28,'the diameter of the cup being slightly greater than the diameter ofthe can top. The shaft 22 is rotated through pinion 29 carried by shaft21, driving pinions 30 and 31 carried by bracket 32 mounted on the frameof the machine. Pinion 31 meshes with a pinion 33 splined on shaft 22andconstantly rotating the adjusting head regardless of its verticalreciprocation.

The crimping mechanism which I prefer to use is well known in the artand is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 10. In this mechanism carriage 14is provided with a central bore 36, in which is mounted a core 37, heldin engagement with the bore by-any preferable means such, for example,as by split sleeve 38, and locking bolt 39. Fixed to the bottom of thecarriage 14 is a ring 40, and fixed on the bottom of the core is anotherring 41, these rings defining therebetween an annular space in which aremounted the four sectional blocks 42, shown more clearly in Fig. 8,these blocks having a small radial movement in the said space andbeing'urged radially against the interior surface of'rin 40 by means ofexpansion springs 43 seate in bores in the blocks 42, as more clearlyshown in Fig. 8. These blocks are supported on the rings by means ofarcuate' members 44 fixed to the blocks and seated in opposed annularrecesses formed in the upper portions of the rings. Mounted to movevertically in core 37 is a plunger 45, having at its lower "end a capengaging head 46, and being urged downwardly by means of compressionspring 47, the plunger being limited in its downward motion byadjustable nuts 48, the plunger being limited in its upward movement bythe engagement of the upper face of head 46 against the lower face ofcore 37. Blocks 42 are provided with in-.

wardly projecting beads 49 for a purpose hereinafter described. Platform17 is provided with a bore, in which is movably mounted the stakesupport 50, this support being upwardly urged through compression fsprings 51 seated in the base of platform 17 the support being limitedin its upward motion by means of the 'heads on guide screws 52, attachedto the support 50. The

10 of the drawings. These expansion stakes are retained againstlongitudinal motion by a retaining ring 54, fixed to the stake support50, the retaining ring having an annular flange engaging retainingshoulders on the expansion stakes 53. These stakes when assembled havean internal bore 55, tapered at its upper portion 56, as shown in Figs.7 and 10. Cotiperating with this bore is an expansion bolt 57 mountedfixedly with respect to latform 17, as for example, on bolt 58. Eacstake is provided with a radially projecting rib 59 for crimpingpurposes. The top and cap are adapted to be received upon the stakemembers as shown clearly in Fig. 7. In operation of this crimpingdevice, as carriage 14 moves downwardly the head 46 first engages thecap and the stakes and in its further downward motion the blocks 42engage the interior surface of platform 17, these .blocks being pressedinwardly by the said surface by reason of the fact that the diameter ofthe bore in platform 17 is somewhat smaller than the external diameterof the assembled blocks 42. The lower outside edges of the blocks andthe upper interior edges of the platform are suitably curved, providingfor easy engagement of the blocks with the platform. The.

turned portions of the cap. Upon further downward motion of the carriage14, when head 46v has reached the limit of its upward motion, this headbegins its driving operation and drives stakes 53 downwardly against thestationary expansion bolt 57. The'stakes 53 are thus driven outwardly byreason of the engagement of expansion bolt 57 with the tapered portionof the core in the expansion stakes. The ribs 59 in this operation crimpthe neck of the can top just above the inturned portion of the cap heldby the head and the beads 49. As will be apparent, in the upward motionof carriage 14, the can top and cap are freed from engagement with thehead 46 and blocks 42,

the support 50 being driven upwardly with the stakes 53, by means ofcompression spring 51, thus loosening the stakes 53 and permitting thesubsequent easy removal of the now crimped can top and cap.

In operation can tops are placed either by an operator or automaticallyin position on the platforms with the central stud of the platformpositioning the top thereon,

and the caps are placed on the tops as described but no care need betaken to position them accurately thereon. In the form of top shown inFigs. 5 and 6 tit 34 carried by the top engages the slot 35 in the capto stop the cap in position on the top either with the holes registeringor completely closed; but it is obvious that my device is applicable tovarious forms of can top having registering means thereon. The table inits intermittent revolution locates the ca first under the adjustinghead which descen s thereon and by frictional engagement of pad 28 withthe cap rotates the cap until tit 34 engages slot 35, when the rotationof the cap will be stopped by the engagement of the tit with the end ofsaid slot. The head 27, however, continues its rotation, sliding oversaid cap, which will be in closed position shown in Fig. 6 with theholes out of register. The pressure of spring 25 can be adjusted so asto produce rotation of the cap but with a minimum of friction after thecap is in closed position. The adjusting head rises simultaneously withthe crimper and the adjusted cap is moved under the crimper and crimpedsimultaneously with the adjustment of the succeeding cap. The 'crimpedtops are removed after passing the crimper and new tops and capssubstituted thus providing a continuously operating machine.

While I have shown my invention in its preferred form it will beapparent that changes and modifications may be made in the specificstructure disclosed without departin from the spirit of the invention asembodied in the following claims.

I claim 1. In a machine for preliminarily adjusting a rotatable cap on acan top prior to the crimping thereof, the cap and top having meansadapted for registration and interengagement so as to limit the movementof the cap on the top in opposite directions, means for supporting thetop and means for rotating the cap to bring the interengaging means intooperative relation whereby an assembled top and cap in registry isprovided ready for crimping.

2. In a machine for preliminarily adjusting a'rotatable cap on a can topprior to the crimping thereof, the cap and top having means adapted for.registration and interengagement so as to limit the movement of the capon the top in opposite directions, means for supporting the top andcontinuously rotating means for rotating the cap to bring theinterengaging means into operative relation, whereby an assembled topand cap in re istry is provided ready for crimping.

3. In a. machine for preliminarily adjusting a rotatable cap on a cantop prior to the crimping thereof, the cap and top having means adaptedfor registration and interengagement so as to limit the movement of thecap on the top in opposite directions, means for supporting the top' andmeans .-for frictionally engaging the cap to rotate and cap in registryis provided ready for crim ing.

4. n a machine for preliminarily adjust: ing a rotatable cap having arecess on a can top having a projection, prior to the crimping of theseelements, the projection and the recess constituting means adapted forregistration and interengagement so as to limit the movement of the capon the top opposite directions, means for supporting the can top, a.rotating head rotated above said support, and means for bringing saidhead and cap into engagement to rotate the cap to bring theinterengaging means into operative relation, whereby an assembled topand cap in registry is provided ready for crnnpmg.

5. In a machine for adjust' thereof, the 'cap and top having means arotatable cap on acan top prior to t e crimping adapted for registrationand interengagement soas to limit the movement of .the cap on the top inopposite directions, an inter-' mittently movable table providingsupports for a plurality of can tops and means operable when the saidtable is stationary, for rotating the caps on the tops'to bring theinterengaging means into operative relation, whereby an assembled topand cap in registry is provided ready for crimping.

6. In a machine for preliminarily adjusting a rotatable cap on a can topprior to the crimping thereof, the cap and top having means adapted forregistration and interengagement so as to limit the movement of the capon the top in opposite directions, an intermittently movable tableproviding supports for a plurality of can tops, a continuously rotatablereciprocable head opercomprising a support having means for at tachmentto the reciprocating crimping head of the crimping machine, androtatable means rovided with a cap adjusting-head yieldab y mounted forsliding movement in said support. j

9. An attachment to a crimping machine comprising a su port having meansfor attachment to t e reciprocating crimping head of the crimpingmachine, rotatable means provided with a cap adjusting head mounted 1nsaid support,'-a bracket adapted to be mounted on a stationary part ofthe crimping machine, and rotatable means mounted in said-bracketincluding an element for rotating sald first rotatable means. 10. Anattachment to a crimping machine comprising a support having means for.at-

' sliding movement.

11. In a can assembling machine, the com- -bination of means for holdingin position" a can top having a rotatable cap thereon, the cap and tophaving means adapted for registration and interengagement so a to limitthe movement of the ca on the tap, means for rotating said cap intoadjusted position to bring the interengaging means intooperativerelation and means for crimping said cap in adjusted position.12. In a can assembling machine, the combination of means forholding inposition a can tophaving a rotatable'cap thereon, means for rotatingsaid cap into adjusted position, means for crimping said cap in adjustedposition and means for conveying said holding means from adjusting tocrimping position.

13. In a can assembling-machine, means for holding av can top having arotatable cap thereon, the cap and top having means adapted forregistration and interengagement so as to limit the movement of the capon the top, a reciprocating crimper and means connected to andreciprocating with said crimper for rotating the c'an'cap intp adjustedposition on said can top to bring the interengaging means intooperativerelation.

' 14. In a. can assembling machine, means for holding a can top having arotatable cap thereon, the cap and top having means adapted forregistration and interengagement so as to limit the movement of the capon the top, a reciprocating crimper and a rotating head connected to andreciprocating with aidcrimper for rotating the cap into adjustedposition to bring the interengaging means into operative relation.

15. In a can-assembling machine, a support for a plurality of can topseach having a rotatable cap thereon, means for rotating said caps intoadjusted position, means for crimping said caps in adjusted position andmeans for operating said crimping and adjusting means simultaneously.

16. In a can assembling machine, a crimper, means for reciprocating.said crimper, a can cap adjusting head mounted on a rotatable shaft'carried by and reciprocating with said crimper, and connections betweensaid rotating shaft and the means for reciprocatin said crimperoperative to rotate said s aft.

17. Ina can assembling machine, 'a reciprocatin'g crimper, means forsuccessively advancing can tops with rotatable caps thereon beneath saidcrimper, means for driving said {advancing means, a rotatable shaftcarrying means for rotating said caps into adjusted position and meansfor rotating said shaft connected to the said advancing means.

18. In the art of assembling and crimping caps on can tops, in which thetop and cap have means adapted for registration and interengagement soasto limit the movement of the cap on the top in opposite directions,the steps of placing the cap on the can top, stationarily supporting thecan top while moving a continuous rotating element into contact with thecap for the rotation thereof on the can top until the means on the topand cap interengage, whereby an assembled can and top in proper registryis obtained, and in then crimping the cap on the top While the parts arethus in interengaged position. K

19. In the art of assembling and crimping caps on can tops, in which thetop and cap have means adapted for registration and interengagementso astolimit the movement of the cap on the top in opposite directions,

the-steps of placing the cap on the can top,

stationarily supporting the can top while moving a continuous rotatingelement into frictional contact with the cap for the rotation thereof onthe can top until the means on the top and cap interengage, whereby anassembled can and top in proper registry is obtained, and in thencrimping the cap on the top while the parts are thus in interengagedposition.

20. In'the art of assembling and crimping caps on can tops, in which thetop and cap have a: projection and a recess, respectively, constitutingmeans adapted for registration and interengagement so as to limit themovement of the cap on the top in opposite directions, the steps ofplacing the ca on the can top, stationarily supporting t e can top whilemovinga continuous rotating element into contact with the cap for therotation thereof on the can top until the projection moving a continuousrotating element into contact with the cap for the rotation thereof onthe can top until the means on the'top and cap interengage, whereby anassembled can and top in proper registry is obtained.

22. In the art of assembling and crimping caps on can tops, in which thetop and cap have a projection and a recess respectively constitutingmeans adapted for registration and interengagement so as to limit themovement of the cap on the top in opposite directions, the steps ofplacing the cap on the can top, stationarily supporting the can topwhile moving a continuous rotating element into contact with the cap forthe rotation thereof on the can top until the projection and the recesson the top and cap interengage, whereby an assembled can and top inproper registry is obtained.

In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGEHULTHAUS.

